Hidden Gems: Meet Humaira Arain of Peach & Honey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Humaira Arain.

Hi Humaira, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been an avid baker for as long as I can remember! I love exploring baked dessert recipes from different regions, always intrigued by the science behind the process. I’m a mom of three, and feeding my family homemade, nutritious food made with wholesome, good-for-you ingredients has always been very important. In 2016, to further indulge my culinary curiosities, I enrolled in Schoolcarft College’s Baking and Pastry program. After graduation, I began to work towards my baking venture, one that would reflect and encompass my food values and ethos. 

My baked creations had to be wholesome, all-natural, and reflect my love of global flavors. And I was going to steer away from artificial and modified ingredients. Hence came forth Peach & Honey Cake Bars, exquisite slices of cake inspired by family favorite flavors and made with only natural, non-GMO ingredients. 

We focus primarily on sales through grocery stores. Over the years, we’ve built great partnerships, and Our Cake Bars are available at multiple independent and premium grocery retailers all over Michigan. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We had a very smooth start. It was almost to the point where I felt like we were growing too fast! Learning how to navigate this rapid growth involved a lot of challenges such as managing distribution, keeping up production, and dealing with growing expenses. And then, of course, getting hit with the Pandemic presented a whole new set of challenges, such as shortages due to supply chain disruptions, price increases, and shifting consumer preferences.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Peach & Honey, LLC?
Peach & Honey, LLC is an all-natural wholesale bakery. We make a consumer-packaged goods product called Cake Bars. Available in eight delicious flavors, these soft slices of all butter cake are made with nuts, fruits, and fruit preserves, using only clean and non-GMO ingredients. Cake Bars are very versatile; as a delicious accompaniment to tea and coffee, for breakfast, or as a snack on the go. Perfect for entertaining, Cake Bars add an elegant touch to dessert tables and charcuterie boards and make a wonderful hostess gift. 

One of the essential reasons why our Cake Bars taste so unique and flavorfully intense is our ingredients – the quality, the variety, and the fact that we don’t skimp on quantities. For instance, biting into a Cherry Lemon Cake Bar tastes like a bright burst of lemon combined with the sweetness of tart cherry preserve. 

We currently sell at grocery retail locations only. We work with a local distributor for distribution to retail and food service accounts all over Michigan and in Northern Ohio. We are currently in 50+ retail doors. We are working on launching an online store soon. Stockist information is available on the website. 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One of the most important lesson we learnt was that you have to be agile and ready to pivot. Covid-19 posed so many challenges, From material shortages to material price hikes. While things have gotten better to a great extent, the economic environment is still impacted, and we are constantly evolving our business operations and strategies to tackle these challenges. Diligence and dedication of our hardworking team members played a key role in getting through the Covid-19 crisis. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.peachandhoneybakes.com
• Instagram: @peachandhoneycakebars
• Facebook: @peachandhoneycakebars